Automatic disc loading apparatus

Abstract

A disc player apparatus having mechanism for guiding and centering disc records of different size on a disc record drive having a vertical spindle. A horizontal plate for receiving a disc record inserted and movable along a horizontal path to a position centered on the spindle has spaced levers pivotally movable laterally outwardly from a first position straddling the center line of the path and resiliently urged toward each other; the levers have a first position spaced sufficiently to engage an inserted disc record of either a small size or a large size and be moved outwardly thereby against the resilient element to guide a record of either size to centered position. A pair of generally L-shaped stop members are mounted on the plate straddling the center line in the path of an inserted small size record to locate such a record in its centered position. Two elements actuated by outward movement of both said levers by a large size record are employed for shifting the stop members out of the path to permit a large size record to move to its centered position. A safety and disc record detection circuit is provided.

I claim: 
     
       1. In a disc record player apparatus, mechanism for guiding and centering disc records on a disc record drive having a vertical spindle comprising, in combination:   a horizontal plate for receiving a disc record inserted and movable along a horizontal path to a position centered on said spindle;   means on said plate for guiding inserted disc records of different size to said centered position, including:   spaced levers pivotally movable laterally outwardly from a first position straddling the center line of said path;   means resiliently urging said levers toward each other;   said levers at said first position being spaced sufficiently to engage an inserted disc record of either a small size or a large size and be moved outwardly thereby against said resilient means to guide a record of either size to centered position;   a pair of stop means mounted on said plate straddling said center line in the path of an inserted small size record to locate such a record in said centered position; and   means actuated by outward movement of both said levers by a large size record for shifting said stop means out of said path to permit a large size record to move to said centered position.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which each said stop means comprises an L-shaped stop member pivotally mounted to rock from an up position with one leg extending above said horizontal plate in said path to a down position with said leg substantially in the surface of said horizontal plate out of said path. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which said means for shifting said stop members out of said path include elements extending from said levers and cooperating to cause said stop members to rock to said down position upon pivotal movement of both said levers outwardly from said first position through a given angular displacement. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which one of said stop means is located adjacent each of said levers and said means for shifting said stop means includes two elements associated with each said stop means, one of said elements extending from and being operable by outward movement of the adjacent lever and the other of said elements being operable by outward movement of the remote lever, both levers requiring movement through a given angular displacement to operate said elements to shift said stop means out of said path. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which one of said stop means is located adjacent each of said levers and said means for shifting said stop means includes two elements associated with each said stop means, one of said elements extending from and being operable by outward movement of the adjacent lever and the other of said elements being operable by outward movement of the remote lever, both levers requiring movement through a given angular displacement to operate said elements to shift said stop means out of said path. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to claim 3 in which one of said stop means is located adjacent each of said levers and said means for shifting said stop means includes two elements associated with each said stop means, one of said elements extending from and being operable by outward movement of the adjacent lever and the other of said elements being operable by outward movement of the remote lever, both levers requiring movement through a given angular displacement to operate said elements to shift said stop means out of said path. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which one of said stop means and one of said levers is located on each side of said center line and said means for shifting said stop means includes an elongated link connected to and operable by outward movement of the lever on the remote side of said center line, both levers requiring movement through a given angular displacement to shift said stop means out of said path. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which one of said stop means and one of said levers is located on each side of said center line and said means for shifting said stop means includes an elongated link connected to and operable by outward movement of the lever on the remote side of said center line, both levers requiring movement through a given angular displacement to shift said stop means out of said path. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to claim 3 in which one of said stop means and one of said levers is located on each side of said center line and said means for shifting said stop means includes an elongated link connected to and operable by outward movement of the lever on the remote side of said center line, both levers requiring movement through a given angular displacement to shift said stop means out of said path. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to claim 3 in which each said stop means comprises an L-shaped member and two elements are provided, each connected to one of said levers, for shifting each said stop member cooperating with a different leg of said L-shaped stop member. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said levers are mounted below said horizontal plate and rollers are carried by said levers projecting above said horizontal plate for engagement by the periphery of inserted disc records. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which said levers are mounted below said horizontal plate and rollers are carried by said levers projecting above said horizontal plate for engagement by the periphery of inserted disc records. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus according to claim 3 in which said levers are mounted below said horizontal plate and rollers are carried by said levers projecting above said horizontal plate for engagement by the periphery of inserted disc records. 
     
     
       14. An apparatus according to claim 3 in which said levers are mounted below and said elongated links are mounted above said horizontal plate for cooperation with a different leg of said L-shaped stop member. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus according to claim 1 including switches for detecting the angular positions of the levers corresponding to either a small size disc record or a large size disc record in centered position, and circuit means including said switches for generating a signal representing the presence of a disc record of either size in centered position. 
     
     
       16. An apparatus according to claim 2 including switches for detecting the angular positions of the levers corresponding to either a small size disc record or a large size disc record in centered position, and circuit means including said switches for generating a signal representing the presence of a disc record of either size in centered position. 
     
     
       17. An apparatus according to claim 3 including switches for detecting the angular positions of the levers corresponding to either a small size disc record or a large size disc record in centered position, and circuit means including said switches for generating a signal representing the presence of a disc record of either size in centered position.